On this cold, & wild rain, there's honestly nothing better than a steaming bowl of pho, so we found…read moreourselves back at Pho Viet Anh for round two, tonight. I originally came in fully committed to ordering the Bún Bò Huế (P4), but the moment I heard about the $3.50 giant rib add-on, all bets were off. I switched to the P1 Combo Pho just so I could have that massive, fall-off-the-bone rib soaking in that rich, aromatic broth and it was absolutely worth it. The broth was deeply savory and comforting, layered with flavor without being overly salty, and that rib took things to another level. Tender, meaty, and perfectly braised, it made each bite feel extra indulgent. My boyfriend went with the bánh mì pork sandwich, and we added fried egg rolls for the table. The bánh mì had that perfect balance of crispy baguette, juicy pork, and fresh pickled veggies, while the egg rolls came out hot, crunchy, and packed with flavor. We also got the chance to meet the owner/chef and had such a great conversation, which made the whole experience feel even more personal. Service was friendly and attentive throughout the night. Safe to say, this spot continues to deliver -we'll definitely be back for more.

The pho broth here is delicious. Only negative food-wise was that you have to ask for the pho sides…read moreand they only give you a teeny-tiny bit of bean sprouts, basil, and lime and you have to ask for it. And no cilantro is offered. Service was less than stellar. We were there on a weeknight, it wasn't very busy, just a few tables -- but the waitress seemed disinterested in waiting on her tables. Everyone appeared to have to flag her down to order drinks, to order food, to get sides, and to get their check.

The food here is always delicious and the people are consistently kind. I'm always stopping by to…read morepick up croissants for family members and a few salads for myself and friends. This café has been serving fresh breads, pastries, and lunches for years, and it never disappoints. Honestly, the hardest part about coming here is deciding what to get because there are so many good options. Some of our favorites are the baguette with dill, the original croissants, Chinese chicken salad, Asian noodle salad, the California turkey sandwich, the American turkey sandwich, and the La Bou Club, plus a few others I'm probably forgetting. They also have wraps and paninis, not to mention cookies, scones, muffins, and so much more! Everything is fresh and flavorful. It's truly one of those places where you can't go wrong.

So overpriced for poor quality food. Menu hard to read and…read morehard to understand. Reminded me why I don't come here anymore.

Pho Momma has definitely blown up lately after getting more recognition, and yes... there's almost…read morealways a line now. But honestly? Kinda Worth it. The broth in the #1 pho was the real standout for me. Rich, flavorful, comforting, and exactly what good pho broth should be. You can tell time and care went into it. The crispy pork egg rolls were also a win, crunchy on the outside, flavorful inside, and perfect with the pho. Even with the growing popularity and wait times, the food still feels consistent and worth coming back for. Rex tip: Try to avoid peak rush times lunch time, unless waiting in line is part of your cardio plan for the day. Safe to say this spot earned the hype. 5 ROARS from Focusaurus Rex

Salt & Pepper Calamari (4/ 5): This was cooked pretty well. I wasn't a huge fan of the bread…read more Crispy Chili Oil Wontons (5/5): This was the best part of the meal. I loved that the wontons were the perfect amount of crispiness and the filling was juicy. Chili oil wasnt spicy, but it did add a nice flavor. Half/Half and added Meatballs Pho - Medium size (4/5): I ordered the Lean beef and tendon and added meatballs to my pho. The medium size was a perfect size for me. It was filling especially after eating the appetizers. Normally, I order a Large at most pho restaurants, but im glad i didnt this time. So portions are pretty good!

The service and food were equally as impressive. Everything was so tasty and our dinner came out…read morevery quickly. There was a whole menu of tasty, handcrafted drinks to try and the decor was so cute :)

This is an updated review to my older one posted pretty much when Boiling Avenue opened oh so many…read moreyears ago. I've spent many dinners here since then and I have to say BA has been one of my go to spots ever since the doors opened. They began with a focus on their awesome hot pots and some appetizers and have expanded to have a wide array of food options. I love a good soup, but I have to admit their rice bowls have become my new fave. The pork belly with quail eggs and the popcorn chicken bowls are our go to entrees now. We stop by after every pickleball game we have and our group can't help but order what we consider the "necessary" BA bites. AKA most of the menu. Salt and pepper tofu (my fave), grilled mackerel (yum), shrimp skewers (a classic), cucumber salad, garlic mushrooms and more. Never went wrong with trying something new from the menu. This place has always been a vibe and I've celebrated many an occasion here. But it's also one of our fave can't decide on anything dinner spots. Boiling Avenue will always hold a special place in my heart. Cheers!

Stopped here on Friday after tiring ourselves out with holiday festivities around town. It's down…read morethe street from our house and the little one with us said pho sounded delicious. We walked in an hour before close and the nice woman who sat us came by very promptly as we closed our menus to take our order. The food came out pretty quickly, which pho usually should, but I've been held up at other places before. The broth was hot and savory in the best way. Not spicy, but they had chili oil and fresh sliced jalapeños if you wanted it to be. The basil was super fresh and she brought extra limes as soon as we asked for them. The portions for the broth and noodles were HUGE. The meat servings were not as large as expected but it's only $3 for an extra plate of meat. Overall, our experience here was delightful. Highly recommend, which is rare for restaurants in Carmichael.

This review is for the Vietnamese food only, as we haven't had their sushi yet. I'll start by…read moresaying their iced Vietnamese coffees are amazing and my husband and I have been here several times just for the coffee. The staff are attentive and friendly and we are always greeted right away. The coffees only take a minute, which is a plus. The ambience is great and the interior has a clean aesthetic. We recently had pho here and it was delicious. They have plenty of options for both meat eaters and vegetarians, but not so many that is overwhelming to choose. We also started with pan fried gyoza and it was some of the best gyoza I've had. They put the sauce on the plate under the dumplings, which we absolutely loved. We were here on a Tuesday night around 5:40-6:30 and it was not very busy when we arrived, but had picked up a bit by the time we left. Even still, it looked like everyone was getting their food quickly. Highly recommend this Carmichael gem.

I wanted to come here for a while. My daughter brought me here for Mother's day…read more This restaurant is inside Stones Gambling hall. Don't let that stop or hinder you. It is open seating...so just choose a table and sit...the wait staff will be there soon. We started with water and ordered the mini duck tacos which were 20.00. They are very tiny. Maybe 1 or 2 bites. The duck is crispy...the shell crispy...the crema was delicious. We also ordered the sweet chili wings..ALL I CAN SAY IS OH MY GOSH...THESE WERE ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS . the order comes with five wings for $18.75. These wings are crispy with a sweet chili glaze , which is wonderful. The flavor though...they are a must try. We also ordered the Goat cheese wood fire pizza. It was 21.00 It comes with shiitake mushrooms...garlic...spinach...red onion and we added pepperoni. This pizza was incredible. The flavor was so so good. The crust was soft and perfect. If you are looking gor a great meal..try Sammy's. I already plan on going back.

Stopped by Sammys Restaurant and Bar and had a solid experience The food was tasty and came out…read morefresh and hot Service was friendly and the atmosphere felt easy going and comfortable Good spot to relax grab a drink and enjoy a casual meal

My gf heard about this Bulgarian restaurant on the news. They were featured and there reviews…read morereally drew her to it. Her family is from the Eastern Europe. It was fun trying somewhere new as we usually go to our favorites. For the past several years we've been going to Scott's for celebrations, but that has gotten old so thankfully we found somewhere new and loved it. I highly reccomend this restaurant. The ambiance is spectacular. If you can get one of the side tables under the overhang with the wine bottle chandelier you'll love it. Here's what we ordered: Borscht with Beef: Traditional red soup made with beets, beef, garden vegetables topped with sour cream- To me it didn't look appetizing, but it's a traditional dish so we split a cup. We didn't have much hope that would be edible. We were blown away trying it. It was actually good. We were shocked. It was so good. It was filled with pieces of tomatoes and beets and huge tender chucks of beef. Spinach Blini-Gluten free, vegetarian, 6 blintzes filled with spinach and creamy white sauce. We really enjoyed these Spinach Blini. They were very rich. I could only eat two to them and took the third one with me to share with my husband. He really liked it and wish there was more. I really wanted to get the Cherry Blini, but we were too full even though we shared an entree. I'm so disappointed as they looked so good. We needed a couple more people at our table so we could have tried more dishes and eaten everything family style. Beef Stew-Tender chunks of beef meat, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms and this good things stewed in perfectly hearty cheese gravy baked in clay pot and served with tortilla on top. We split this dish and it was the perfect amount for us. It was really good. The chunks of potatoes and meat were huge, the mushrooms were firm, and the flavor was really tasty.

Delish Borscht. My Ukrainian buddy suggested I try their…read moreBorscht Soup because we both know Beets generate Nitric Oxide and make our veins flexible. I drove 30 minutes to get there and a lovely young Ukrainian woman served me with a smile and elegance and I really enjoyed the Borscht and I normally can't stand the taste of beets so I will definitely be back. I then ordered several of their other plates and also enjoyed them so I took them home and ate like a Ukrainian for a few days. :-)

We really Panera and appreciated the customer service especially from Cristobal who helped get us a…read moreclean table and also found my canteen/water container on another table and gave it to us. The food is always so good and healthy. We both ordered theChicken Wild rice soup and I got the Harvest Medley Chicken salad and he got the Chipotle Chicken Avocado sandwich. Both were part of the "U Pick 2" that Panera offers. The flavor was just right and you leave Panera feeling full and healthy. The ambiance was great there was nice group doing a Bible study, and couples do homework/studying and another couple eating! The staff were pleasant, smiling and help. Great job to this Panera location! We will be back!

It's tough to give two stars but because the extremely overpriced bagels and soups are decently…read moregood, I will.. I have never liked the atmosphere and always feel that Panera is overpriced, it's like being robbed every time we go. My daughter got 1/2 a grilled cheese for nearly $10. It was one slice of white bread and some American cheese. Literally that was it. And I think everyone knows that that's kind of how it goes with Panera. We don't go there trying to save money. The drive through is slow, they can never hear you (I would suggest a new speaker but the fact that it's been like this for years tells me they know and they don't care) , they want to take your order immediately but you can't see the menu until they ask what your order is. I turn off my car but they can still never hear me. Now it is a "grand reopening Dec 3-5". Reopening from what? That is unclear. Nothing seems to have changed. They had some streamers out front but only a couple of customers at 8am. Nobody in the drive through. The grand reopening sign for Dec 3-5 said they have specials, when I asked what they were, the person was confused. They went and asked someone else who told them the special was that the first 25 people that got there at 6 AM would get something. I didn't bother to let them know they had a sign out front that said there would be grand reopening specials for three days... turns out there isn't. Best to keep avoiding this place guys. Money is better spent at Noah's and the service is always better too. Bummed the "reopening" is just another day that even the employees didn't know what happening, with no apparent changes to a place that desperately needs to revise pricing, fix their restaurant experience, and at minimum offer breakfast all day long. Doesn't seem like it would be hard to improve with so many areas suffering, but they just can't crack the code.

I was in this shopping center getting a massage on a Tuesday morning . I saw this place on the way…read moreinto the massage and thought that noodles sounded great after a massage. It turns out a thunderstorm rolled in while I was getting my massage so it definitely was a great time to stop and have some lunch. I changed my mind and instead of a noodle dish I decided to get pho, since it sounded perfect on this day. It really hit the spot and a small was still more than enough. Great flavor and nice and hot. I was surprised I was the only one there on a Tuesday lunch. The prices are on the higher side, compared to the south area restaurants, but they have an extensive menu and so much closer. If you're looking for something particular they probably have it here. They also have fruit shakes which I will have to come back to try since I was too full. I especially was excited to see Durian shakes which are my favorite. Might have to do another massage and try the shake next time!

I gotta say first time trying PHO the broth is amazing tastes like homemade. AND my mouth is not…read moredry afterwards. That's how a pho broth should be IMO. I give it 4.5/5 only because I would love to see more condiments like pickle jalapeño or chili oil. But overall it's one of the best if not the best pho spot around if anybody likes the taste of homemade pho.

House of Thai RIce & Noodle is one of my favorite spots. I don't live as close as some other Thai…read morespots, but whenever I'm in the area I try to make a point to stop. Sometimes this spells out trouble because I want to order the whole menu instead of a sensible amount of food. On my latest visit I ordered takeout and got the Tom Kha Soup with tofu ($13.50), Green Curry with tofu ($13.50), Kao Soy ($13.50), House Chow Fun with tofu ($13.50), Thai Tea ($4.50), and Thai Iced Coffee ($4.50). It was a lot of food, but I've learned House of Thai Rice & Noodle is best enjoyed family style where you get to enjoy a few things. The pricing is very reasonable for the portions and the flavor on the dishes is so good! I don't know what they do with their Chow Fun, but the noodles were so flavorful, soft and fluffy and didn't need any extra sauce. The Tom Kha soup is a comfort food for me and this is always a great option. I forgot to order rice with my curry, but eating it like a soup is equally satisfying. The Kao Soy was flavorful and the noodles were great with the broth and toppings. I've dined in and gotten take out and both are great experiences. The team here is so friendly and welcoming. When I order takeout, I typically order at the restaurant and wait and they always have me sit at a table and offer water or another drink while I wait. I do love dining in because the dishes are at their freshest and it makes for better photos. The dining are has plenty of seats and it comfortable. The plaza also has plenty of parking, but the spots nearest to the restaurant tend to fill up. If you're thinking about stopping here, try it, you won't be disappointed!

Came here on my lunch break since I've heard so many good things about it. It's a small and…read morecharming despie being in an unassuming strip mall in North Highlands. I've tried a lot of spots around here since I work nearby, and this has been on my list for a while because of how highly it's regarded. It was busy at lunchtime, but we were seated immediately and brought iced waters. The menu is huge with a lot of great classic options. We ordered the angel wings (personal favorite), pad see ew with fried tofu, and red curry with fried tofu and rice. Everything came out very quickly and was nicely plated. The curry had a great mix of vegetables, always love the tender eggplant the most, and it was rich, but not overly heavy, with great flavor. The pad see ew was also delicious, smokey, and had a nice mix of cabbage and broccoli, which I've never seen before but actually really liked. It was nice getting something other than just straight noodles. Angel wings are a longtime favorite and brought me right back to childhood dinners at Thai restaurants with my family. Not every spot has them, so I had to order them when I saw them on the menu. They were delicious, just how I remembered, and plated nicely with a light, flavorful sauce. The food overall was excellent and service was attentive. My only note is I should've asked for spice. I think they assumed we didn't want any heat, which is probably typical for most people, but I definitely prefer some spice in my Thai food and I appreciate when they ask. We were also two people at a six-person table since that's all that was available, so felt a little bad about that. Toward the end, they sat a single diner with us, which was a bit awkward to be honest, but luckily we were finishing up. Overall really good experience. Just remember to ask for spice if you want it, and maybe consider takeout if it's busy and don't want to share a table.